Neem oil is a nono, any oil will probably block the pores, and it will be hard to clean. And rubbing alcohol isnt used to clean mealybugs, its isopropyl alcohol - a chemical that differs a lot from rubbing alcohol as well( one more CH chain part, and with different OH part location)

My alcohol bottle label reads isopropyl rubbing alcohol.

I am so bummed about Neem oil though - it doesn`t say anywhere in the instructions not to use on succulents. The label reads safe for all houseplants. Few sites I got the idea from also recommended neem oil as supersafe and effective. I knew I shouldn`t use malathion on crassulas, had no idea about neem oil. I just want to cry now - some of the plants grew for two years and got so big and pretty, and all are dying now. Anything I can do to reduce the damage?

Would you mind describing how you treated your plants with alcohol and then neem oil spray?

Also, it doesn't matter what kind of alcohol you use, the point of spraying it on pests is to literally smother and poison them as they breathe through their orifices. Same with neem oil. Or soap. Or rosemary oil. Or all of them together, with soap as surfactant.

Gin or brandy will work too. It just would be wasteful.

I use both (isoprophyl alcohol and neem, not gin and brandy). There are long discussions in this forum about the hows and wherefores, too.

Photos of your plants will help, don't cry yet. We'll help sort it out, if still possible.

Did you dilute the neem oil?? It works well against pests mixed at 5% with water, a couple of drops of liquid soap to make a sprayable emulsion.

SpanishFly, It was pre-diluted ready-to-use spray bottle of Natria neem oil that said 0.9% active ingredient.

Pagan, I used 70% isopropyl alcohol in a small spray bottle to spray at the visible pests and white "cotton" crumbles. I also sprayed at the junction of the stem/leaf because the bugs seemed to like these spots. I sprayed every three-four days for about three weeks, plants still indoors with grow lights. It seemed to help, much less cotton on the leaves. Some leaves got bumps/distortions that I thought is a chemical burn, but at least plants stopped to rot and dye from the bugs. And then I read on one of the sites (can`t remember which one) that the mealybug eggs hatch every five days, and neem oil will help to smother the youngsters. I read about neem oil, it seemed to be safe, at least no warnings that jumped to my eyes. So five days after the last alcohol application i took a bottle of Natria ready to use neem oil and sprayed liberally on the spots where bugs used to be. Two days later and almost all the leaves are on the ground :-(((

Aw - sorry to see your problems with mealies and the treatment. When I get an infestation that I can't get under control with a cotton swab and rubbing alcohol (mine is also isopropyl), I give up and do a drench. This gives me a systemic treatment that will kill the critters when they bite the plant. I use Bayer Tree and Shrub, but there are others to use.

This is a good, albeit long, discussion on using insecticide and pesticides on our succulents. I keep it bookmarked for reference. Maybe you would like to read it, too - and perhaps add your own experience.

https://www.houzz.com/discussions/insecticide-pesticide-insights-dsvw-vd~3742440 

As for correcting the damage already done, I don't know if rinsing the plants or washing them down will help. I would try to propagate the leaves. You have nothing to lose.

Good luck!

I am not sure, but perhaps using both was too much. I never used neem, just isopropyll alcohol. I use it undiluted (most of the time), either 70% or 90-99%, whatever I have at the time.

Looks like stems are alive, so you may be able to regrow plants. I would also try to propagate the leaves as Crenda suggested. I also see some new growth, so roots are probably OK.

If you don't mind - I would suggest to add more inorganics in existing mix. I believe that it may be wet from spraying, but all I see is 'black' soil. Adding at least coarse perlite (min 50%) would help. Get rid of all dead leaves, trim ff any damaged stems (if any), and they may regrow. I would root leaves separately.

I agree that every 4 days for 3 weeks is excessive.

The objective is to kill the pests before your plants. Most pesticides (natural and synthetic) are phytotoxic, which mean they can/will damage your plants if not applied correctly.

The effects of phytotoxicity are typically worse under higher amounts of light. Some pesticides also are rendered inactive themselves under natural UV light even (Pyrethrin).

I found is that the internet is full of misinformation regarding succulents, which is frustrating and dangerous (to your collection). That is the biggest reason I started the thread that Crenda linked. Real experience from seasoned growers specifically for succulents.

As a side note, there are VERY few things that can kill eggs of pests. The purpose of the egg is protection and they have evolved to be very good at that. If you follow up strategically/methodically as Rina mentions, then 3-4 applications of the right pesticide (alcohol or whatever) is typically enough to completely wipe out infestations.

Should the isopropyl alcohol be diluted?

I used neem oil on a cactus for scale. The cactus made healthy new growth and no return of the scale.

I use 99% undiluted rubbing alcohol, if needed. 1st time I ever used it I diluted it, but it didn't work. So I used 75% undiluted, and eventually higher.

BUT I would recommend for anyone to test - better be safe than sorry. I used it on variety of plants, and also for scale. Never used neem oil, it isn't easily available where I live. Lucky so far, as I don't get mealy often, and scale even less.